BRUTAL: Darren was hit over the head with a crowbar (Pic: Portsmouth News/Solent News)

They did though punch her with the couple’s daughters watching on from the house, before Mia came to the rescue.

Ashley reportedly said: “My husband went back to his van, he was still trying to fight and not go down.

“Another guy got out of the car and punched him in the face.

“When I tried to shield my husband I thought ‘oh my God they’re going to hit me with it’. As I tried protect him and tell him to go down I thought; if they’re going to hit him again they’re going to kill him.

“‘I put my hand up and said that’s enough. Then my daughter let the dog out. They got in the car and fled because she’s a Rottweiler.”

HERO: Rottweiler came to the rescue (Pic: Portsmouth News/Solent News)

Darren was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital, near Portsmouth, and then transferred to the specialist head injury unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Ashley continued: “I’m constantly thinking this could have been a different story. I could’ve been burying my husband and our daughters could have lost their dad.

Darren added: “I’m so angry about what these cowards have done to my family.

“It breaks both our hearts that our girls witnessed this, my poor daughters shouldn’t have had to see this happening to their parents.

“It sickens me they both thought their dad was going to die in front of them.”